Author: Chuck Rocha

New Group Will Push Campaigns to Hire More Diverse Political Consultants

By Suzanne Gamboa

Excerpt: Having played bit parts for too long in campaigns and seeing the nation’s electorate become increasingly diversified, a group of political consultants said Tuesday it’s time for a greater diversity in their ranks.

The political consulting industry, largely white and male, is seeing more and more people of color, women and people from the LGBTQ community in the field. But too often they are relegated to smaller roles in campaigns or are paid less or hired only for outreach to their constituent communities, the consultants said.

A regular contributor to Fox News and MSNBC for his insight on political races and issues in the Latino community, Chuck Rocha is the president and founder of Solidarity Strategies, which consulted for Bernie Sanders’s 2016 presidential campaign. Outside of the political realm, Chuck Rocha is an avid fan of the National Football League’s Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Steelers secured an integral part of its offense in the 2017 NFL offseason by placing the franchise tag on running back Le’Veon Bell. This gives the team exclusive negotiating rights with the 25-year-old. If he does not sign a long-term deal with the Steelers before July 15, Bell will earn north of $12 million in 2017 and become a free agent following the season.

A second-round pick in the 2013 NFL draft, Bell has been one of the Steelers’ most dynamic players for the past four seasons. In 47 career games, he has accumulated 4,045 yards rushing, 2,005 yards receiving, and a combined 31 touchdowns. Last season, he led the NFL in yards from scrimmage per game with 157 and touches per game with 28. He also recorded a career-high in rushing yards per game with 105.7.

A leader in political consulting, Chuck Rocha operates Solidarity Strategies, the biggest U.S. political consulting firm owned and operated by Latinos. Outside of this role, Chuck Rocha is a fellowship advocate with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute, Inc., which offers youth a college preparation and leadership program called Ready 2 Lead.

Ready to Lead gathers Latino high school students for interactive college preparation seminars in multiple cities, from New York and Chicago to Phoenix and Los Angeles. Through his weekend event, students learn about the process of applying to college and paying for their educations. They leave the event better equipped to create a competitive college application.

Ready 2 Lead allows students to attend workshops and team-building exercises and learn from successful Latino leaders and educators, who serve as mentors during the Mentoring Power Hour. This session divides students into small groups where they can glean insight from Latino mentors as they prepare for college.

To learn more about the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute and its programs, visit CHCI.org.

In 2010, Chuck Rocha founded Solidarity Strategies, a Washington, DC-based political consulting firm that he continues to lead as president. In his free time, Chuck Rocha follows his hometown professional baseball team, the Washington Nationals.

Washington Nationals fans had a lot to be happy about in 2016, as the team ended the regular season in first place in the National League East division. The Nationals also finished the regular season tied with the Texas Rangers for the second-most wins league-wide, with only the eventual World Series-winning Chicago Cubs tallying more. Making their third trip to the playoffs since 2012, the Nationals fell 3-2 in nail-biting Divisional Series matchup against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

In the subsequent offseason, Nationals management has been relatively quiet. In December, the franchise traded minor-league prospect Pedro Avila for the San Diego Padres veteran catcher Derek Norris, though the Nationals released Norris in March.

In another trade, the club acquired Adam Eaton from the Chicago White Sox in exchange for three right-handed pitchers. Two of the pitchers, Reynaldo Lopez and Lucas Giolito, are considered top prospects. While a costly acquisition, Eaton comes to the Nationals following a productive 2016 season in which be batted .284 and was a finalist for the Gold Glove.

As the president of Solidarity Strategies, Chuck Rocha oversees the firm’s day-to-day operations while also managing clients, branding, and marketing. Chuck Rocha and his associates were named 2016 Consultants of the Year by the Goldie Awards and recently earned six Reed Awards, including two for contributions to Bernie Sanders’ 2016 Presidential Campaign.

In early 2017, Solidarity Strategies released a short documentary on the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) initiative and the people affected by it. DACA is an Obama-era immigration policy made official in 2012 that affords the minor children of undocumented immigrants the opportunity to stay in America for a two-year deferred action period that could be renewed. During that time, the minors would not face the threat of deportation or legal action related to their immigrant status.

The program, Pursuing the Dream, subtitled “A DACAmentary,” features interviews of children of undocumented workers explaining how DACA has helped them succeed in their adoptive country. The DACAmentary also goes into detail on the directive and those that came after, such as Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA). Lastly, Pursuing the Dream examines and questions how President Trump will handle these initiatives and the ramifications a repeal would have on those affected by DACA and DAPA.

To learn more about DACA, DAPA, and to watch Pursuing the Dream, visit Solidarity Strategies online at solidaritystrategies.com.